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Inspiration Learning Centre Takes Home Silver Honours in the 2018 CFA Awards of Excellence and 2018 Choice Franchisees’ Award at the CFA Awards Gala.
April 24, 2018… At the the 2018 CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising Inspiration Learning Centre took home some grand honours competing alongside some of Canada’s biggest franchises. The Canadian Franchise Association was pleased to announce Inspiration Learning Centre as the recipient of the silver prize for the 2018 CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising in the Traditional, Brick and Mortar category and was a recipient of the 2018 Choice Franchisees’ Award.

The CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising is an award given to franchises that have spent years and invaluable time in building their brand. Each year the award is given to franchise systems that have demonstrated the strongest, most mutually rewarding relationships with their franchisees. The CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising recognize excellence in franchise operations. The 2018 Choice Franchisees’ Award is an award given to each organization by their franchisees. Franchises are judged based on their ability to lead, plan, market, train, and support its franchisees. Winning these two awards proves that Inspiration has not only seen superior success over the past decade but it has also developed a thorough and responsive brand that helps all its franchisees grow and see success.

This year was Inspiration’s first year at the gala, after years of hard work the brand has built a successful network of franchisees that deserve to be commemorated as well. With the building of these positive relationships Inspiration was able to take home a big honour at its first ever appearance at the CFA Awards Gala which was held on Ottawa, Ontario from April 23rd, 2018.

To be nominated for the 2018 CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising , a CFA-member franchise system must have been franchising for three years or more and must hold 6+ franchisees. In fact, this year, more than 70 CFA-member franchise systems participated in the competition, setting a new record. Inspiration held its ground alongside some of the titans of Canada’s Franchise industry including: Symposium Cafe, Pizza Nova, Pizza Pizza, Wendy’s, Scholar’s Education Centre, and Restoration 1.

Entries were separated into Traditional Franchises (those with brick and mortar locations) and Non-Traditional Franchises (those that are mobile or home based). Within these categories, entrants were grouped based on number of franchisees. Inspiration won silver in its category. With 12 locations already, next year, great things will be planned for Inspiration for be on the look out for a rising brand of success.

We had a fantastic brainstorming meeting with Punch Canada/Fishman Canada this morning. Thanks a lot to Lisa Raffaele (VP), Jeff Lake (Managing Partner) and Laura D’Angelo (Account Manager). Part of our plan is to reach out to smaller towns and communities in Ontario and Vancouver to help build up tutoring / private school facilities.

Put away the beach towels and get ready for the back to school frenzy! Now that the summer break is over it is time for students and parents to acclimatize themselves to another year of learning. Here are a few tips for getting started on the right-foot.

Contact your children’s teachers. Give them a quick call or a friendly email introduction and let them know that you would love to hear from them during the year.

Get your back to school schedule down in writing. Whether it is a choice of school lunches, timetables for classes or options for quick and easy dinner on busy school nights. Having it down on paper can help you stay organized during hectic school nights.

Keep an eye on the important things that make for a good school day. Backpacks should not be too heavy, make sure your child is not carry around everything including the kitchen sink. A backpack that is too heavy can cause strain and pain. Snacks, we all love to indulge sometimes but make sure you have lots of healthy snacks available for your children’s lunch bag. Sleep! Make sure everyone is getting to bed early because nothing spells disaster at school like a tired student.

The job market across Canada is very competitive. If you want a rewarding career it is best to start planing prior to College/University – using an educational consultant can pay a huge premium down-the-road. Inspiration Learning has professional consultants that have helped hundreds of aspiring student.

We are so proud to announce our newest franchise location will be in Calgary, AB! Owning an education franchise is a great way to experience the joy of entrepreneurship but still have a tried-and-tested company backing you up. Our goal for 2018/2019 is to add six more franchises, if you are interested please visit our franchise information website.

Summer tutoring is a great way to get a head start on the next school year. Walking into school on the first day with confidence is priceless and a great start to the road of success! We made a short video about this.

​With September approaching, it’s time for both parents and children to start preparing for the upcoming school year. Here are our tips for you and your child to start the school year off right!

1. Set goals and expectations.
You have them as a parent, and your child should have them as a student. A discussion with your child about what’s important to them will help both of you determine how to approach the new school year. It will also help to identify areas of potential problems and work on preventing or mitigating them before they become major issues. Was there a subject your child struggled with last year, and how can you help him or her with it this year? Perhaps the two of you can decide to set up a study routine, weekly homework check-ins, or some tutoring classes.

2. Focus on the long-term.
Getting a good education is about more than just academics. What are your child’s aspirations for him- or herself? Set up a good foundation for a well-rounded educational journey by looking into extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and other opportunities. This will allow your child to explore his or her interests, get involved in the community and help them later on when they are looking into post-secondary programs. Inspiration’s educational planning packages can help you out if you don’t know where to start.

3. Establish a good routine.
A solid routine with certain tasks done at particular times of the day will help your child stay organized with confidence. Begin each day on the right foot by providing them a nutritious breakfast and ample time to get ready for school. A good evening routine that includes set times for homework will help them stay on top of school work. Children also need the right amount of sleep in order to be alert and ready to learn all day, so an appropriate curfew will ensure they are well-rested.

4. Meet the teachers.
Establishing a good relationship with your child’s teachers will help you stay informed about your child’s progress. Teachers often have email addresses which can be used to check in with them throughout the school year, and identify issues long before report cards come out. Is English not your first language? No problem! Inspiration offers translation and interpretation services for parents who need a bit of help communicating with teachers. Contact us to find out more.

5. Get a calendar.
Write down all the important dates, deadlines, and events throughout the school year so that you can be well prepared ahead of time for things like parent-teacher interviews, talent shows, university fairs, application deadlines, and more. Put your calendar somewhere where both you and your child can easily see it everyday. This way, your child will be encouraged to not only stay organized but to manage his or her own responsibilities and develop more independence.

Asian teaching methods emphasize conceptual and procedural knowledge, meaning math concepts are taught in a very clear and logical manner. The learning process involves repeated practice of core concepts, so that students build a strong foundation for further learning. Students are taught to see math as logical relationships between numbers, rather than simply memorizing steps and formulas, thus learning it in a more meaningful way. Teachers don’t move on to more difficult topics until the previous one has been mastered.

Due to this, repetition and practice are a big part of Asian teaching methods. It is thought that repeated exposure and effort in math concepts through things like daily homework and frequent tests, students become more proficient at problem-solving, critical thinking, and develop an overall stronger understanding of numerical relationships.

Challenge Math: Bringing Asian math to the west

Inspiration’s Challenge Math program adopts the Asian teaching method with a three-step learning process: concrete, pictorial, and abstract. Students first use small objects such as dice or paperclips to model math concepts in a hands-on way, before moving on to using pictorial representations. Finally, students solve math problems in an abstract way using numbers and symbols. This three-step process is highly logical and sequential, with an emphasis on mental math. The goal is for students to develop a deep understanding of the logical and numerical relationships in mathematics. Students understand not just how something works, but why.

Students also learn fewer concepts but in far more depth. The topics are practiced and reviewed with a variety of word problems and real-life applications, which build critical thinking skills and allow students to get in the necessary amount of practice.. This way, students master each concept before going onto the next, and ensures that there is no need for re-learning the skills after advancing to the next grade.

You might recognize this method from Singapore math, which has gained popularity on the international stage. Actually, Singapore math is taught the same way as mathematics in other East Asian countries, but it is better known simply because Singaporeans use the English language. It is due to Singapore math’s distinguished record and English-language content that Inspiration Learning Center chooses to use their materials in our program.

Is Challenge Math right for your child?

Our Challenge Math program is designed for students in grades K-8 who already have a good math foundation, want to challenge themselves, or want to improve their math grades from B’s to A’s. This program is also perfect for students who enjoy doing math and want to explore the subject as a possible field of study in higher education.

Check your child’s report card. The Ontario elementary and middle school report card splits mathematics into 5 categories: Number Sense and Numeration, Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense, Patterning and Algebra, and Data Management and Probability. If your child has B+ or higher in at least 3 of the 5 areas, they are at the right level for Challenge Math.

Enrolment has already begun!

We are now accepting students for the Challenge Math program, beginning in mid-September. Challenge Math is offered for grades K-8, with two 12-week programs at each grade level. Tuition is $400 per 12 weeks, covering 12 classes. Contact your local Inspiration Learning Center or email us at info@inspirationteaching.com for more information.

Jump Math is one of Inspiration Learning Center’s newest math programs, aimed at students in grades K-8. After looking at the state of mathematics in Ontario, we at Inspiration decided to introduce this program as our answer to the following frequently asked question:

Why do some students struggle in high school math while others don’t?

Even with the help of the best tutors, there are students who find mathematics in high school incredibly challenging. There are a few reasons for this.

High school math classes tend to move quickly. Many new concepts are introduced at the secondary school level, and are at a much higher complexity than students have encountered before. In a high school math class, teachers often spend most of the time explaining these new concepts, assuming that students have the appropriate prerequisite knowledge from previous math instruction already, and spend very little time going over the core skills.

In this way, math programs in schools typically favour students who already have a strong background in mathematics, with solid fundamentals. That’s why some students excel, because they had started off their high school math learning with all of the prerequisite knowledge. On the other hand, students who are less prepared will find that the usual school math program moves quickly beyond their reach. There are gaps in their core skills and foundational knowledge, so as the school year goes on, they will find it harder and harder to keep up.

Mathematics is like building a house; it happens step by step starting with a strong foundation. Without the core skills and concepts, no matter how fancy the rest of the house is, it will still collapse. This is where Inspiration’s new Jump Math program comes in.

What is Jump Math?

Jump Math is an award-winning math program for grades K-8 developed right here in Ontario. The program was founded on the philosophy that all children can be led to think mathematically, dispelling the myth that some were born with math “talent” while others just don’t have it.

Jump Math does this by using a scaffolding method: new concepts are introduced at a simple level, using small “micro-steps” that gradually and incrementally increase in complexity. This ensures students master each step before moving on to something more complex, thus avoiding gaps in learning. Just like climbing a ladder, each step must be taken one at a time in order to keep advancing upwards. If you miss a step, you may not be able to keep going.

One important key to Jump Math is the use of pictures and mental strategies. When children learn math concepts at an early age, teachers often like to use small manipulable items like dice, paper clips, or building blocks. However, for true understanding to occur, students need to internalize math concepts and comprehend them in an abstract way, rather than relying on manipulatives. Jump Math does this by foregoing the objects; instead the focus is on developing mental strategies with the help of pictures.

Does Jump Math work?

Jump Math was created in 2002 by John Mighton, who based it on a tutoring program he had taught. He found that with this program, children who struggled to keep up at the beginning of the program had, by the end of the program, caught up and even worked faster than the fastest student did at the beginning. This shows that the idea that “some kids are just better at math” was largely a self-fulfilling prophecy, and that with the right program, anyone had the potential to excel at math.

The results are clear. Jump Math has had huge success in Canada and is spreading to the US and around the globe. It has gained many awards and recognition from various groups, including the Government of Ontario and the UK Department for Education and Skills, which included it in a publication called “What Works with Children with Mathematical Difficulties”. The increasing popularity of the Jump Math program in both schools and tutoring centers prove that the program is truly effective.

Enrol today!

Inspiration Learning Center is pleased to present the Jump Math program. We aim to not only better aid students in succeeding in math but to cultivate the idea that all kids can do math.

Jump Math will be offered to students in grade K-8 who are looking to strengthen their math foundation. Check your child’s most recent report card. Mathematics is broken down into 5 areas on Ontario elementary and middle school reports: Number Sense and Numeration, Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense, Patterning and Algebra, and Data Management and Probability. Jump Math is perfect for students with B+ or higher in 2 or less of these areas.

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Inspiration Learning Center offers professional tutoring services from highly skilled and dedicated teachers, and we believe that every student can achieve their full potential and develop a love for learning with proper educational and emotional support.